WhatIsPolicy,Systemsand

Environmental(PSE)Change?

Policy,systemsandenvironmentalchangeapproachesseektogobeyondprogrammingand
intothesystemsthatcreatethestructuresinwhichwework,liveandplay.Theseapproaches
oftenworkhandinhandwhere,forexample,anenvironmentalchangemaybefurtheredbya
policyorsystemchange.Similarlyapolicycouldbeputinplacethatresultsinadditional
environmentalchanges.Theprocessisnotlinear.

Attheendoftheday,aneffectivePSEapproachshouldseektoreachpopulationsanduncover
strategiesforimpactthataresustainable.Effortsmayacceleratetheadoptionor
implementationofeffectiveinterventionsbyeffectivelyintegratingapproachesintoexisting
infrastructures.Suchapproachesoftenincludeadvocates,decisionandpolicymakers. 1

Event/Programvs.PSEChange
CharacteristicsofEventorProgram CharacteristicsofPSEChange
Onetime Ongoing
Additive:oftenresultsinonlyshortterm Foundational:oftenproducesbehavior
behaviorchange changeovertime
Individuallevel Community/Populationlevel
Notpartofongoingplan Partofanongoingplan
Shortterm Longterm
Nonsustaining Sustaining

WhatisPolicyChange?
Policychangeincludespoliciesatthelegislativeororganizationallevel.Forexample,
institutionalizingnewrulesorproceduresaswellaspassinglaws,ordinances,resolutions,
mandates,regulations,areallexamplesofpolicychangeefforts.Governmentbodies(federal,
state,locallevel),schooldistrictsandschools,parkdistricts,healthcareorganizations(hospitals,
healthsystems),worksites,andothercommunityinstitutions(jails,daycarecenters,senior
livingcenters,faithinstitutions)allhaveandmakepolicies.

Examplesinclude:
Changinglocalzoningordinancessothatcornermarketscandisplayproduceoutdoors
Provisionofcountyorcitypublicland(orpreviouslyvacantland)forgreenspacesor
farmersmarkets.
Changingcommunityparklawstoallowfruittrees
Establishinghealthyconcessionstandpoliciesinlocalparksorrecreationfacilities

1
RobertWoodJohnsonFoundation

Createdby:TheFoodTrust,2012 1

 Schoolsrequiringhealthyfoodoptionsforallstudents.
Schoolpolicythatprohibitsunhealthyfoodinschoolfundraisingdrives.
Passingalawallowingresidentstoplantcommunitygardensinvacantlots.
Ahumanresourcespolicythatrequireshealthyfoodstobeservedatmeetings.

WhatisSystemsChange?
Systemschangeinvolveschangemadetotheruleswithinanorganization.Systemschangeand
policychangeoftenworkhandinhand.Oftensystemschangefocusesonchanging
infrastructurewithinaschool,park,worksite,orhealthsettingorinstitutingprocessesor
proceduresatthesystemlevelthatensureahealthierworkplace.Examplesare:
ScreeningforHungerinHospitalsanddevelopingongoingmechanismstoreferhungry
residentstofood
FarmtoSchoolprograms
Connectingemergencyfoodproviderswithlocalgrowersinasustainableway
Creatingacommunityplantoaccountforhealthimpactsofnewprojects.
Implementingthenationalschoollunchprogramacrossthestateschoolsystems.
Creatingacertificationprocessforschoolbakesalestoensuretheyareinlinewithschool
wellnesspolicy.

WhatisEnvironmentalChange?
Environmentalchangeischangemadetothephysicalenvironment.Physical(Structural
changesorprogramsorservice),social(apositivechangeinattitudesorbehavioraboutpolicies
thatpromotehealthoranincreaseinsupportiveattitudesregardingahealthpractice),and
economicfactors(presenceoffinancialdisincentivesorincentivestoencourageadesired
behavior)influencepeoplespracticesandbehaviors.Whilerelatedtotheenvironment,such
changesarenotisolatedtoafewhouseholdsorindividuals,butinsteadreflectapopulation
focusedeffort.Examplesofchangestotheenvironmentmightinclude:
Incorporatingsidewalks,paths,pedestrianfriendlyintersections,andrecreationareasinto
communitydesign(completestreetspolicy).
Installingsignageonalreadyestablishedwalkingorbikingroutes.
Municipalityplanningprocesstoensurebetterpedestrianandbicycleaccesstomainroads
andparks.
Availabilityofhealthyfoodchoicesinrestaurantsorcafeterias.
Increaseinacceptanceoflimitingcandyasrewardsinclassroomsacrossaschooldistrict.
Charginghigherpricesforlesshealthyproductstodecreasetheiruse.
Provisionofhealthinsurancediscountsorbonusdollarsforthosewhoexercisefrequently.

Createdby:TheFoodTrust,2012 2


ExamplesofPSEChangeinDifferentSettings
Setting PolicyChange* SystemsChange* EnvironmentalChange*
School LosAngelesSchoolDistrictHealthy FarmtoSchool:District Gardens:Gardenbuilton
BeverageResolutionprohibitsthesale switchesprocurementand vacantwaterdistrictland
ofsodainvendingmachines,student cookingsystemsto adjacenttoschoolexposes
stores,andcafeteriasatLAUSDschool incorporatefresh,local studentstofreshproduce
sites. produceandotherfoodsinto whileteachingthemabout
schoolmealsandintegrates howfoodisgrown
itwithclassroombased
educationabouthealthy
eating.
Community SafeRoutestoSchoolCityadopts LocalFoodtoRetail:City Farmer'sMarkets:Small
policyreducingspeedlimitnearschool procurementsystemschange farmersmarketsare
inordertoencouragesaferoutesto tosourceonlyhealthyfood openedatcommunity
schoolandpedestriansafety. forvendingmachines. basedorganizationsand
clinicsinunderservedareas
Worksite SantaClaraHealthyFoodPolicy ReimbursePrevention: HealthyOptions:Healthy
Requires50%offoodandbeverages Reimburseemployeesfor foodoptionsareavailable
soldinCountyvendingmachinesmeet preventivehealthand foremployeesduringthe
specificnutritionguidelinesandsets wellnessactivities workdayandatall
nutritionstandardsforcounty meetings
sponsoredmeetingsandevents.

Hospital Hospitaladoptsapolicyandprocess ReferralSystems:Developa Farmer'sMarkets:Onsite
foroperationofFarmersMarkets referralsystemtohelp FarmersMarketenhances
onsiteattheCountyHospital,and patientsaccessfurther staffandcommunityaccess
otherCountyproperties. nutritionandphysicalactivity tofreshproduce.
resources.
*Note:Processisnotnecessarilylinear(policychangeenvironmentalchangeORenvironmentalchangepolicychange);
*AdaptedfromtheEnvironmentalNutritionandActivityCommunityTool(ENACT):http://eatbettermovemore.org/sa/enact/members/index.php
andLocalPolicyDatabase:http://eatbettermovemore.org/sa/policies/**AdoptedfromCentersforDiseaseControl

Createdby:TheFoodTrust,2012 3